Amritsar: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is now a minister in the Punjab government, has announced a compensation of Rs 24 lakh from his own pocket to the some farmers who have suffered heavy losses after their crop was damaged by devastating fire.

Sidhu made this announcement on Sunday after he visited the Othian village where wheat crop spread over 300 acres was destroyed in a devastating fire.

The fire occurred after a high-tension wire snapped during a storm, leading to a short circuit.

Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Kamaldeep Singh Sanga said, “The crop spread over 300 acres was damaged after a high tension wire fell in a field due to a storm.”

The MLA from Amritsar East said the farmers will be compensated at a rate of Rs 8,000 per acre.

“I understand this is not enough, and this is the reason I have come here today. To further compensate the farmers as I feel their pain, I will give the same amount out of my own pocket,” said the minister, adding that it was his duty to held the people of Rajasansi segment who had always supported him.

“I do television. I earn money. So there is no harm in compensating the farmers,” he said.

“It adds up to Rs 24 lakh and I will pay from my personal funds. I do not want to put burden on the state exchequer,” he said.

In the past, too, Sidhu had given Rs 1 crore for the ‘Go Green, Go Clean’ campaign in Amritsar. He was the Amritsar MP at that time.